Extra security cameras are being installed at a Derbyshire prison in the wake of a judge's scathing description of the jail as a "holiday camp".

Questions marks were raised over Sudbury Prison after knife attacker Jamie Subryan fled on July 17, 2018 despite only arriving there just hours before.

Subryan climbed out of an unbarred window of his room, walked up to an unguarded fence and climbed over it, before going on the run for six months, a court has heard.

He escaped on the same day he was moved to the open prison, in Sudbury, less than three years into an eight-year sentence imposed in 2015 for three knifepoint robberies, the court was told.

Subryan, 39, of Harrow in North London, admitted escaping from lawful custody and was jailed for an additional eight months at Exeter Crown Court, reports Stoke on Trent Live .

The prison has been likened to a holiday camp (Image: Unknown)

Judge David Evans also ordered the Governor of HMP Sudbury to provide a written explanation within a week of how Subryan was able to walk out without anyone noticing.

Now, according to the Ministry of Justice, which oversees the prison, security measures are being improved with more cameras installed.

A prison service spokesman said: "This case shows that absconders can expect longer behind bars and, while nearly all absconders are quickly returned, we are installing more security cameras to improve monitoring at the prison and prevent this happening in the future."

During Subryan's six months on the run he moved first to Liverpool, then Bude in Cornwall where he worked as a labourer, before going to Exeter, where he gave himself up to police.

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He had a lengthy record for knifepoint robberies and was classified as a "dangerous offender", the court was told.

Gordon Richings, prosecuting, told the court Subryan was sentenced to eight years and four months at Harrow Crown Court in November 2015 for three knifepoint robberies. He had previously served terms of four and six years for identical offences.

He was found to be missing from his room at Sudbury Open Prison at 5.30am on July 18 last year. He handed himself in at Heavitree Road police station in Exeter on January 6 this year.

Barry White, defending, said Subryan had run away because he was assaulted by other prisoners soon after his arrival, possibly in a case of mistaken identity.